PLAINSBORO, N.J., June 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:IART), a world leader in medical technology, today announced that June 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of its founding.
Twenty-five years ago, Richard Caruso, PhD, currently a member of Integra's Board of Directors, established Integra with a vision to use regenerative medicine products to help heal and regenerate tissue. He founded the Company on a technology platform to repair and regenerate tissue with engineered collagen devices. In 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the company's first product, Integra® Dermal Regeneration Template - a collagen matrix designed as a skin replacement system for victims of third-degree burns. Integra Dermal Regeneration Template was the first product approved with a claim of regeneration of dermal tissue.
"Rich has a passion for helping patients, and he had a dream that, given the right devices, the body could regenerate its own tissues and organs, and he has seen his dream come true," said Stuart Essig, PhD, Integra's Chairman of the Board, and President and Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to 2012. "Rich's vision, perseverance and personal dedication is really what made the great work this Company does for its patients possible."
Integra has developed numerous product lines for applications ranging from repair of burn and deep tissue wounds to repair of dura mater in the brain, and nerve and tendon. The Company has grown by building upon this core regenerative medicine technology, acquiring businesses in markets with overlapping customer bases and developing products to further meet the needs of its target customers.
"Integra is now a leading medical technology company involved in a wide variety of complementary businesses, and well on its way to becoming a multi-billion dollar global organization," said Peter Arduini, Integra's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We're grateful for the many colleagues and customers who have contributed to our success and this incredible accomplishment of the last 25 years, and look forward to making a difference in patients' lives for many years to come."
Since its founding, Integra has evolved from a company with one product, Integra Dermal Regenerative Template, its artificial skin, to a global company providing a wide variety of innovative solutions in neurosurgery, orthopedics and surgical instruments. Today, Integra has more than 3,000 employees and thousands of products that help millions of patients around the world.
Integra LifeSciences, a world leader in medical technology, is dedicated to limiting uncertainty for surgeons, so they can concentrate on providing the best patient care. Integra offers innovative solutions in orthopedic extremity surgery, neurosurgery, spine surgery, and reconstructive and general surgery. For more information, please visit www.integralife.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors, identified under the heading "Risk Factors" included in Item IA of Integra's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect actual results.